China's burgeoning space program plans to launch its first astronomy satellite and participate in joint projects with Russia and France, state media reported Monday. The satellite to be launched in 2010 will carry a "hard X-ray modulation telescope" for the study of black holes and other space phenomena.

China's second manned space mission and its first to carry two astronauts is due to launch on Oct. 13, weather permitting, and return five days later, a state media report said. The Shenzhou VI mission will last 119 hours if all goes according to plan, the state-run China News Service reported.